Body Composition Test

A group from ATC is charity running the NYC Marathon. Their latest fundraiser was an opportunity to learn your body fat percentage (and other composition stats) by getting "tanked", which refers to a hydrostatic body composition test. I've done the Tanita scale and handheld versions, but never something like this, and decided it was worthwhile use of my funds. 

Being a runner, I naively assumed I was pretty healthy, and would blow this test out of the water. 

The printout has a chart showing age-graded percentage and percentiles, categorized as:
Essential Fat
Healthy Range
Optimum Health
Good
Fair
Poor
Very Poor

I'm not even in the "good" range. I'm on the bad side of "fair", closer to "poor". 

Yeah, total wake-up call. Just because you're one of the faster people in the training program, running 40+ miles a week, and can fit into a certain size clothing does NOT mean you're healthy. 

Biggest shocker: I'm in the 35th percentile.

That means 65% of people my age have a lower body fat percentage than I do. 

Of course, I felt a bit bad about myself after learning that. I mean, it's hard to be told "there's something sub-optimal about you" in any setting, especially something as personal as your own body, and especially when you have this illusion that you ARE healthy, or at least better than more than 35% of people your age.

So, I took a step back and decided to look back on where I've been this past year:

January 2016, 7 Weeks Postpartum (Tanita Scale)
Weight: 150.6lb
Body Fat: 28.6%

March 2016, 4mo Postpartum
Weight: 144.2lb
Body Fat: 25.9%

August 2016, 8mo Postpartum
Weight: 139.2lb
Body Fat: 24.3%


That made me feel better. I may still be overweight and over-body fat, but I've made remarkable progress this year. Also, I did have a baby less than a year ago, and I know that changed my fat content a LOT. Back in 2013, I was at 21% (which, for reference, would have only put me in the "good" classification). So, I've got a ways to go to get back there, but this also isn't the season/time to focus on that.

Right now, my focus is the Chicago Marathon. Marathon training isn't a good way to lose weight, and it certainly isn't a good way to build muscle... especially the way I do it, with minimal (if any) strength training. 

Sounds like I've got a great motivational springboard for my post-Chicago fitness goals, though. 2017 will be the the year of strength training and shorter distance running. :D